Content
- What is sarcoptic mange?
- Risk factors
- Causes and risk factors
- Diagnosis of sarcoptic mange
- Sarcoptic mange treatment
- Sarcoptic mange prevention
THE sarcoptic mange, also called common scabies, is caused by the mite. Sarcopts scabiei and it is the most common type of mange in dogs.
It causes intense itching and dramatically affects the quality of life of the dog that has it, which can lead to bacterial infections and serious health problems if left untreated. It is a curable condition, but it is also very contagious and can even be transmitted to humans.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we explain everything about sarcoptic mange, the symptoms that the dog may have and the treatment to apply. Keep reading!
What is sarcoptic mange?
The parasite responsible for this disease is the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei that lives inside the skin infected dogs, causing them itching (itching). Females of S. scabiei are mainly responsible for itching, as they dig microscopic tunnels in the dog's skin to deposit their eggs.
Risk factors
This disease is highly contagious and any healthy dog that comes in contact with an infected dog will be infected. The contagion also happens indirectly, through inanimate objects that have been in contact with the infected dog, such as beds, dog houses, dog beauty equipment, collars, food containers and even feces.
Sarcoptic mange can also be transmitted to humans (although the mite cannot live very long in a human) and you gave it back to the dogs. Symptoms appear 2 to 6 weeks after infection. The dogs with the greatest risk of becoming infected are those found in kennels, pet houses and those who have frequent contact with stray dogs.
Causes and risk factors
The most obvious symptoms of sarcoptic mange include:
- Itching so intense (itching) that the dog cannot stop scratching and biting the affected areas. It can appear anywhere on the body, but usually starts in the ears, muzzle, armpits and belly.
- Irritated and/or sore and crusted skin.
- Alopecia (hair loss) located.
- Darkened skin (hyperpigmentation) and thickening of the skin (hyperkeratosis).
- As the disease progresses, there is general weakness and discouragement due to the dog's inability to rest.
- In advanced stages, bacterial skin infections also occur.
- If sarcoptic mange is not treated, the dog can die.
Diagnosis of sarcoptic mange
The diagnosis of sarcoptic mange should only be made by the veterinarian. In some cases you can get some useful sample (eg stool) and observe under a microscope. However, most of the time the diagnosis is made through the dog's history and symptomatology.
Sarcoptic mange treatment
sarcoptic mange can be cured and generally have a good prognosis. Treatment usually includes some acaricide shampoo or a combination of shampoo and medication. Some common acaricides in the treatment of this and other scabies are the ivermectin it's the amitraz.
It is important to bear in mind that some breeds of sheepdogs such as the collie, the British Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd have problems with these medications, so the veterinarian should prescribe other medications for their treatment.
When secondary bacterial infections are present it is also necessary to administer antibiotics to fight them. The veterinarian is the only one who can prescribe the medications and indicate their frequency and dosage.
Other dogs that live with the affected dog should also be evaluated by the veterinarian and treated, even if they do not show symptoms. Also, it is important to apply an acaricide treatment instead. where the dog lives it is us objects who has contact. This should also be indicated by the veterinarian.
Sarcoptic mange prevention
To prevent this scabies it is necessary to prevent our puppy from coming into contact with infected dogs and their environments. It is important to take the dog to the veterinarian at the first suspicion of mange, as this will facilitate the treatment in case of a positive diagnosis of the disease.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.